GR1a and GR4a

The GR1a, later updated to GR4a is a dedicated reconnaissance version of the Tornado. T

As of 2004, the RAPTOR pod has since replaced the IRLS system fitted to the GR4a. The internal reconnaissance equipment has been isolated but left in place for ballast. With the standard GR4 now flying reconnaissance missions there is effectively no real difference between the capabilities of 4 and 4a.

Photo: Crown Copyright/MoD CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

A 12 Squadron GR4a illustrates perfectly the three 'lump's under the fuselage. On the left is the LRMTS (Laser Ranger and Marked Target Seeker; further back, behind the nose wheel is the IRLS (Infra Red Line Scan). Finally on the right is the FLIR (Forward Looking Infra Red)

Photo: courtesy of Steve Sutcliffe

The Mauser cannons have been deleted on the GR1/4a. The dark rectangular SLIR (sideways Looking Infra Red) sensors can be seen on the side of the fuselage just above the seeker head on the laser guided bomb.